Gas alarm device



April zu, 1952 G. MANCINI GAS ALARM DEVICE 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed DeC.16, 1948 Wm l Nv Nw muv mv Geo/i7@ Mana/'721' INVENTOR.

BY MRI/077% 3.*

prl 29, 1952 G. MANCINI 2,594,951

GAS ALARM DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 george Mano/i721'I N V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNTED STATES PATENT FFHCE 2,594,951 GAS ALARMDEVICE George Mancini, New York, N. Y.

Application December 16, 1948, Serial No. 65,613

The present invention relates to an apparatus for signaling the presenceof escaping illuminating gas from a high pressure gas supply leakinginto homes and buildings, and is intended to provide an audible signalthat is actuatable by escaping gas.

One of the essential features of a high-pressure gas system for domesticuse is the provision of governing instrumentalities for controlling theflow of gas from the intake main to the gas meter and thence togas-consuming appliances. This governor is disposed intermediate theintake and a vent p-ipe, the latter leading to the atmosphere outside ofthe building and to which the gas is supplied, and in the event ofabnormal conditions existing in the system, the governor is adapted toby-pass the incoming gas to thevent pipe, for preventing leakage intothe building. It has been found in practice, that the provision of anaudible alarm which will serve notice to passers-by or the household ofthe existence of such abnormal conditions in the gas system is ofparamount importance as a safety feature.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of an audiblegas alarm for operating, when the usually-provided seal associated withthe aforementioned governor, becomes broken incident to the existence ofabnormal operating conditions in the supply system.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a gasvent and an improved audible alarm, said alarm being so constructed andarranged as to minimize ignition of the escaping gas by tending toprevent the creation of a static spark from a static electrical chargewhich might be built up in connection with said alarm.

A still further object of this invention is. to provide an audible alarmdevice involving a minimum of moving parts, thus minimizing wear andassuring the constant maintenance of the alarm device in operativecondition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an alarm devicewhich will operate on low gas pressure, and will by-pass any excess gasinto the atmosphere while continuing to operate to giveI a continuousaudible alarm.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an audible alarmdevice which is simple in construction and inexpensive in character andwhich will remain in continuous operative condition without attention orservicing over indefinitely long periods of time.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as thedescriptionproceeds, and the 3 claims. (ci. 11s-7o) features of noveltywill be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims.

The invention will be understood more readily by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partiallyin perspective, showing a high-pressure gas supply system entering ahome or other building and. em- Eodying the improvements of the presentinvenion.

Fig. 2` is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of the governor controlunit of the system of Fig.'l.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation 1ilnrough'the alarm deviceof the present invenion.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and rst to Fig. l,reference character A represents a foundation wall through which ahighpressure gas supply line B enters beneath the grade line of theground C. The gas supply line B connects with a riser D which leads to agas meter E. The control governor unit F is connected between the riserD and the vent-riser G through a seal H. The vent-riser G connects by anelbow with vent pipe I on the outer end of which, and positioned abovethe grade line is the audible alarm K, which is adapted to sound acontinuous whistle alarm if gas is escaping through the vent pipe I dueto abnormal conditions existing in the gas system. The seal I-l isconnected operatively to the governor unit F, Fig. 2 showing anillustrative form of construction of a typical governor control unit.The high pressure gas supply line B connects with a supply control valve5 associated with the governor F, which seats on a seat 6 in which islocated an intake orice 'I leading from a high pressure gas inlet 8 towhich is connected the supply line B. A leaf spring 9 mounted inthe endII) of housing I I of the governor control unit F presses against thevalve 5, tending to urge, the valve against the seat Ii. The housing IIof the governor vcontrol unit includes the low pressure outlet I2 whichcommunicates with the riser D that leads to the meter E. The governorcontrol unit F comprises a diaphragm I3 mounted in housing II beneathremovable cover I4 providing accessl to the diaphragm I3. This resilientdiaphragm carries a weight I5 secured thereto by a stem I6, the weightI5 being adapted to engage 9, lever arm I'I which is pivoted at I8 tothe housing II, one end of said lever arm being pivotally connected tosaid weight structure as at I9, the other` end 20 of the lever I'I beingadapted to 1 engage the valve 5. During normal operation of the system,gas passes around the valve to the low pressure outlet I2; but whenabnormal conditions exist such as the entrance of high pressure gasenters beneath and expands the diaphragm I3 which lifts weight I5 awayfrom the lever arm I'I, which permits said arm to pivot around the pivotI8, thereby causing the lever arm end to depress the valve 5, and inconjunction with the leaf spring 9 close said valve tightly on the seat6, thereby stopping the further admittance of high pressure gas. Thisaction regulates the gas pressure, since when the pressure drops, theweight falls permitting more gas to enter. The diaphragm I3, of leatheror other suitable resilient material defines the underlying chamber 2|which communicates through channel 22 with chamber 22 wherein themercury seal 23 is retained in the open end container 24 that connectsthrough ports 25 and 26 with outlet 2l which receives and is connectedto the lower end of the vent riser G. The seal 23 is designed to blowout at any pressure above the low pressure of gas in the riser D leadingto the meter E, thus releasing gas accumulated beneath the diaphragm I3through the ventI and thence through the alarm K, which will continue tosound as long as the gas pressure beneath the diaphragm I3 exceeds thehouse pressure. Also if the valve 5 does not close tightly against theseat 6 for any reason, for example, if there is dirt on the seat, orwearing of the seat, or through faulty operation of the parts, themercury seal will blow, and the alarm K will continue to sound to advisethose in the vicinity of the escaping gas from the vent I. Therefore, incase the seat 6 or the mercury seal 23 becomes faulty or blows withinthe governor, due to excessive pressure, the gas is released to theatmosphere through ventline G and alarm K and not held within theenclosure of the house.

The alarm K is shown in Fig. 3, and comprises a plastic body or housing28 formed at its upper end with a reduced portion or neck 29 formed withexternal threads 30 which are adapted to engage in complemental externalthreads in the end of elbow 3I mounted on the free end of vent pipe I.The neck 29 has a tubular passage 32 through which the escaping gaspasses to the expanding intermediate passage 33 and into the enlargedpassage or bore 34 extending to the lower end 35 of the body 28. Saidbody 28 at the upper end of bore 34 is formed with a flange or shoulder36 against which is seated and suitably secured the annular thickenedflange 36' surrounding the upper open end of a plastic inverted thimbleelement 31 which latter from a point 31', spaced from its upper end 36decreases in diameter towards its lower end 38 which is positionedintermediate the diagonally extending ports 39 formed in the housing 28adjacent to its open end 35, and in diagonal alignment with the ports40. Extending across said thimble 3'I above the ports 40 is a plasticplate 4I having small ports 42 in the ends thereof, these ports being ofsmall diameter and just above the ports 40, so that gas passing throughsaid ports 42 and 40 and through ports 39 in the housing 28, willproduce a whistling sound to give audible alarm of escaping gas.

The neck portion 29 of the body or housing portion 28 is provided withan outlet or by-pass port 43 communicating with passage 32 and anenlarged countersunk opening 44 in which one end of a plasticcylindrical casing 45 is adapted to seat and be secured therein. Thecasing or valve structure 45 is formed with a spring seat 46 surroundingthe gas outlet port 4l opening to the outside air. Said countersunkopening 44 forms a Valve seat 48 for the plastic valve member 49 havinga central upstanding plug portion 50 adapted to engage in one end of theplastic or insulated spring 5I the other end engaging seat 46.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the alarm device K willindicate the existence of any gas pressure caused by a faulty seating ofthe inlet valve 5 of the gas governor F, or the rupture of itsdiaphragm, the blowing of its mercury seal, etc., and effects theutilization of escaping gas to produce an accoustic alarm or whistlewhen the occurence of any gas pressure is evident in the vented end ofthe gas governor. The mercury seal will also blow if the gas is shut offat any time and the total line pressure is suddenly turned on. Thistends to blow the mercury seal because the action of the governor toregulate the gas pressure lags behind the sudden flow of high pressuregas. The construction and arrangement of said alarm device is such thatit will operate to sound an alarm when any pressure, no matter howsmall, escapes the governor and enters the vent line G. Such escapinggas from the vent line enters the alarm device K through passage 33 tothe thimble Whistle structure 3l, and through the openings 42 and 40,effecting the whistle alarm and escaping through the discharge openings39 to the atmosphere.

It will be noted that the escaping gas entering the alarm device K, ifthe pressure is low enough, will escape through ports 42 causing awhistle, but if the full line pressure is escaping, a portion of the gaswill be by-passed through valve structure 45 causing valve member 49 tobe displaced from its seat 48 against the action of spring 5I anddischarging through exit port 4l to the atmosphere. The opening of thisvalve 49 tends to relieve the excessive pressure, and the whistlecontinues to sound throughout this cycle because the opening of thevalve causes an immediate reduction of pressure within the body of thealarm device.

It will be apparent that the alarm structure presents many advantagessuch as being operable by any low pressure Vescape of gas through thevent line to sound an audible alarm, and by the escape of full line highpressure in a manner not to cause a back up or restriction of gas flowwithin the device or through the vent line, by a by-passing of asuicient amount of the high pressure flow from the device, the alarmhowever being continuous, said alarm being manufacturable at a minimumof cost, adapted by reason of its construction to reduce to a minimumthe likelihood of the creation of a static spark incident to the flow ofthe escaping gas therethrough, yet being simple in construction,comprising few parts, readily installable, pleasing in appearance andeflicient for the purposes intended.

It will beiseen from the foregoing that the invention comprises meansfor rendering known to individuals in the neighborhood that gas actuallyis escaping from the vent pipe I, and therefore that abnormal conditionsare existent in the gas system in the house, the Whistle alarm thereforedecreasing the likelihood of danger because of the escaping gas and theabnormal conditions in the gas system of the house. The alarm structure,being of a plastic construction, minimizes the possibility of a staticspark igniting the gas passing through it and gives an audible signalunder any quantity of escaping gas, and renders negligible any dangerfrom static electricity. However, it will be apparent that structuraldetails of the alarm may be varied without departing from the inventiveconcept, as will become apparent readily to one skilled in the art towhich the invention relates, and accordingly it Will be understood thatit is intended and desired to embrace within the scope of the inventionsuch modicaticns and changes as may be necessary to adapt it to varyingconditions and uses, as devfined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what 1 desire protected by LettersPatent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. In a gas system including a high pressure gas inlet pipe, governorcontrol means connected to the inlet pipe for controlling passage of gasto consuming units in a house, a gas vent connected to the governorcontrol means for venting gas from the inlet pipe to air outside of tthehouse, the improvements which consist in an audible whistle alarmmounted on the gas vent adapted to sound a whistle when gas is escapingthrough the vent, the alarm including a plastic housing having a gaspassage therethrough and having an open free end, the housing having aplurality of ports adjacent to the open free end, a plastic thimblemounted in the housing and having a closed end with gas passage portsadjacent to the closed end, a plastic plate mounted in the thimblehaving ports in the ends thereof adjacent to the thimble, and valvemeans for the housing operable under excess gas pressure in the housingfor ley-passing excess gas from the housing.

2. In a gas system including a high pressure gas inlet pipe, governorcontrol means connected to the inlet pipe for controlling passage of gasto consuming units in a house, a gas vent connected to the governor forventing gas from the inlet pipe to air outside of the house, theimprovements which consist in a Whistle alarm device mounted on the gasvent adapted to sound an audible whistling alarm when gas is escapingthrough the vent, said alarm including a plastic housing having a gaspressure therethrough and having an open free end, the housing andpassage enlarging intermediate the ends, the housing having a pluralitydf ports adjacent to the open free end, a plastic thimble mounted in thehousing and having a closed end provided with gas passage ports adjacentto the closed end, a plastic plate mounted in the thimble across thethimble adjacent to the ports therein, the said plate having portsadjacent to its ends and to the ports in the thimble, a by-pass port inthe housing, a plastic valve for closing the port, and resilientmounting means for the valve adapted to permit the valve to open underpressure in excess of a predetermined amount for ley-passing the excessgas out of the housing.

3. In a gas system including a high pressure gas inlet pipe, governorcontrol means connected to the inlet pipe for controlling passage of gasto consuming units in a house, a gas vent connected to the governorcontrol means for venting gas from the inlet pipe to air outside of thehouse, the improvements which consist in an audible whistle alarmmounted on the gas vent adapted to sound a` whistling alarm when gas isescaping through the vent, the whistle including a plastic housinghaving a gas passage therethrough and having an open free end, thehousing and passage enlarging intermediate the ends, the housing havinga plurality of ports adjacent to the open free end, a plastic thimblemounted in the housing and having a closed end provided with gas passageports adjacent to the closed end, a plastic plate mounted transverselyacross the thimble adjacent to the ports therein, the said plate havingports adjacent to the ports in the thimble, a by-pass port in thehousing, a plastic valve for closing the port, resilient mountingmeans-'for the valve adapted to permit the valve to open responsive toexcess pressure of gas over a predetermined pressure, and a plastichousing for the spring enabling lay-passing of excess gas from the alarmhousing.

GEORGE MANCINI.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,779,795 Backstatter Oct. 28,1930 1,855,682 MacLean Apr. 2 6, 1932

